Game Day: Hounds at Louisville City FC
March 22, 2024 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release
The Hounds will be looking to jump into the win column as they head back on the road, but it will be no easy task taking on Eastern Conference rival Louisville City FC on a Saturday afternoon in Kentucky.
Louisville and Pittsburgh have been the two most consistent teams in the USL Championship in recent years, with Louisville reaching the playoffs nine straight years and the Hounds having qualified for the postseason six straight times. The past five seasons, each team has finished atop the Eastern Conference standings twice - Pittsburgh in 2019 and 2023, and Louisville in 2020 and 2022.
But since Bob Lilley's arrival in Pittsburgh, one thing the Hounds have done more than any other USL team is find ways to win at Louisville. The Hounds are 4-2-1 overall at Louisville since 2018, including 4-1 in five regular-season matches.
To get another road win this year, the Hounds will have to find their finishing touch after being shut out in their first two matches in 2024. But while the opener at New Mexico was a lackluster outing, last week against Orange County saw the Hounds do everything right but find the net.
The Hounds had a 12-2 edge in shots and more than 68 percent of the ball, but luck was not on their side when Robbie Mertz struck an excellent volley off the crossbar, and Orange County goalkeeper Colin Shutler produced outstanding saves to deny Babacar Diene and Langston Blackstock late in each half.
On the Louisville side, the home team is just one match into their season, a 1-0 win at El Paso Locomotive. Two former Hounds made their debut for Louisville in that match, as Arturo Ordóñez took his usual spot at center back, and Tola Showunmi was used in a similar fashion to his time in Pittsburgh; the Englishman was deployed as a late substitute up front for goal scorer Wilson Harris, who is back as the top scoring threat for Louisville.
For the second time in three matches - but the last time this season - the Hounds will play an afternoon kickoff with the 4 p.m. start time. This match will also be the first to be aired live on SportsNet Pittsburgh, one of eight that will be shown on the flagship station of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Pittsburgh Pirates. Fans also can watch it streamed live across North America on ESPN+.
The match will later re-air on SportsNet Pittsburgh at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, after the Penguins' game against the Colorado Avalanche.
• Discuss this story on the United Soccer League Championship message board...
United Soccer League Championship Stories from March 22, 2024
- USL Kicks off in U.S. Open Cup - USL
- Everything You Need to Know Before Orange County SC Hosts Miami in Their 2024 Home Opener - Orange County SC
- Orange County SC Announces the Signing of Three Next Wave Players to Academy Pro Contracts - Orange County SC
- Notes and Quotes: "It's Very Important for Us to Go in with a Good Mentality" - Sacramento Republic FC
- Match Preview: Miami FC at Orange County SC - Miami FC
- Hartford Host Birmingham in Home Opener - Hartford Athletic
- San Antonio FC Adds Two on USL Academy Agreements - San Antonio FC
- Game Day: Hounds at Louisville City FC - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
- Rhode Island FC Announces Soccer Rhode Island as Youth Soccer Partner - Rhode Island FC
- Indy Eleven Acquires Tega Ikoba on Loan from Portland Timbers - Indy Eleven
- NCFC Hosts Renewed Rival Tampa Bay Rowdies - North Carolina FC
- Detroit City FC Ready for Saturday Afternoon Clash with Loudoun United in 2024 Home Opener - Detroit City FC
- Match Preview: Rhode Island FC at Monterey Bay F.C.: March 24, 2024 - Rhode Island FC
- Hartford Athletic Announce All Founding Sponsors and Marketing Partners Re-Upping for 2024 Season and Beyond - Hartford Athletic
- Match Preview: Rowdies at North Carolina - Tampa Bay Rowdies
- What to Watch for When LouCity Hosts Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC - Louisville City FC
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
